403 Forbidden

Reign FC trades for Keelin Winters

Reign FC announced a trade Friday — actually the first trade in the history of the NWSL — as the team acquired midfielder Keelin Winters from the Chicago Red Stars in exchange for a 2014 first-round pick and future considerations.

Seattle also received a 2014 fourth-round pick in the deal.

“Regardless of positional needs, there are moments when you have to take a risk and bet on a player’s future,” said general manager Amy Carnell in a news release. “In this instance the chance to acquire Keelin was an incredible opportunity. She is young, enormously talented and has significant upside. We believe she will only get better playing for a city and fan base she loves.”

Winters, 24, was one of 23 U.S. national-team players allocated with the NWSL and played briefly for the Sounders Women last season. She most recently played for Turbine Potsdam in Germany.

“I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to play for Seattle Reign FC,” Winters said in the release. “I’m looking forward to working with a world-­class coach in this new league and improving my game. I am very much attached to the Pacific Northwest, and I can’t wait to play in front of a packed house at Starfire Stadium.”

Winters is the daughter of former NBA All-­Star Brian Winters. She was the 2011 Rookie of the Year in WPS and played at the University of Portland.

“Keelin will add some real experience and quality needed at this level,” said head coach Laura Harvey in the release. “Although we have a strong group of midfielders, we felt we needed to add a more defensive-­minded midfielder to a group of very attacking, creative midfielders and forwards. Getting Keelin onto the team allows us to be creative with our squad and gives us freedom with our formation and system of play.”